Local Organizations and Collaborations
Statewide Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce (PSHTF)
Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce (PSHTF) – Island Taskforces
In addition to the statewide PSHTF, there are county taskforces that address island/community-specific issues. Click here to read more about the Island Taskforces.
DOD/Military Partnerships
Collaboration with our military partners has grown exponentially. There is now a Joint Military Suicide Prevention Taskforce (JMSPTF), which facilitates cross-branch communication and collaboration.
JMSPTF Chair – Stefany Garcia, Consolidated Primary Prevention Analyst, Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce – Hawai‘i Army National Guard – (808) 672-1465, stefany.m.garcia.civ@army.mil
Co-Chair – Melody Bell, Outreach Coordinator, Cohen Veterans Clinic – (808) 509-7850, mbell@cfs-hawaii.org
Sr. Advisor – Brent Oto, Alcohol & Drug Control Officer, ASAP, 9th MSC Army Reserves – (808) 438-1600 x3197, brent.k.oto.civ@army.mil
Below is information for suicide prevention activities in individual branches/services:
Army - https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/garrison/dhr/asap/suicide-prevention-program
Army National Guard – Suicide Prevention Program Manager – (808) 844-6453, https://hawaiiguardohana.org/suicide-prevention-program.php
Army Reserves – Kay Morris, 9th MSC Suicide Prevention Program Manager/Office – (808) 438-1600 x3231, katherine.m.morris28.civ@army.mil
Air Force – Diane Heard, Suicide Prevention Program Manager – (808) 449-1603/1608, latoya.heard@us.af.mil
Air National Guard – Ms. Yumi Panui, Director of Psychological Health 154 WG – (808) 286-0258, yumi.panui@us.af.mil
Marine Corps – C.A.R.R.E. Center (building 216), (808) 257-7780/8803
Navy – LT Leah Teglovic, Suicide Prevention Program Manager – (808) 474-0045, leahteglovic@gmail.com
Department of Veteran Affairs, Pacific Islands Healthcare System – Justin Fienhold, LCSW, CSAC, Suicide Prevention Coordinator – 433-3472, justin.fienhold@va.gov, http://www.hawaii.va.gov/services/mentalhealth.asp
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – Hawaiʻi Chapter
Main contacts:
https://afsp.org/chapter/hawaii, hawaii@afsp.org
Chapter co-chairs:
Kathleen Merriam – k.merriam@live.com
Mestisa Gass – mestisa.gass@mentalhealthhawaii.org
AFSP is the nation’s leading organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes. A small group of board members and volunteers have established a formal Chapter in Hawai‘i. AFSP’s major activities include the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, International Survivors of Suicide Loss events, Hike for Hope, and other trainings and awareness activities to increase community knowledge and capacity around suicide prevention.
Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH)
DOH is the state-designated “lead agency” for suicide prevention activities. The following sections of DOH relate to mental health and/or suicide prevention:
Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch – main resource for suicide prevention trainings & information, including poison prevention – http://health.hawaii.gov/injuryprevention/
Renee Yu – Suicide Prevention Coordinator, DOH EMS and Injury Prevention System Branch (zeruirenee.yu@doh.hawaii.gov)
Adult Mental Health Division – http://health.hawaii.gov/amhd/
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division - http://health.hawaii.gov/camhd/
“A Place in the Middle” – a strength-based approach to gender diversity and inclusion
Directed and produced by Emmy Award-winners Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, “A Place in the Middle” brings an enlightened Hawaiian perspective to efforts to create welcoming and inclusive schools and communities for children of all ages. This 25-minute film, adapted from the PBS Independent Lens feature documentary “Kumu Hina,” approaches diversity and cultural preservation in a youth-friendly way by telling the story through the youth’s own point of view. Organizations and educators are welcome to incorporate the film into trainings/curricula, and/or contact Dean and Joe directly for technical assistance.
Hawai‛i State Department of Education (DOE)
Whole-child supports: http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/TeachingAndLearning/StudentLearning/Supports/Pages/home.aspx
Mental Health America of Hawai‘i (MHAH)
MHAH provides trainings, presentations, and resources for adults and youth. The organization also supports individuals and families around mental health issues, and participates in advocacy activities.
http://mentalhealthhawaii.org/, (808) 521-1846 or (808) 242-6461 (Maui office)
MHAH has a Finding Help Phone List, a compilation of agencies and programs that offer a comprehensive range of services (see Finding Help Guide, updated in July 2021).
Free, anonymous screenings are available to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition at https://bit.ly/3yGjJdN. For crisis resources and support, check out Noshamegethelp.org.
For youth, MHAH offers the Youth Suicide & Bullying Prevention Training (YSBP), a two-hour evidence-informed curriculum for middle and high schoolers that meets the requirements for ACT 270. For more information email prevention@mentalhealthhawaii.org.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hawai‘i
Offers education, advocacy, and support for persons with mental illness and their families. One of NAMI Hawaii’s primary focus areas is the support of families and caregivers of those living with mental illness. They offer a “Family-to-Family (F4F) Education” course for caregivers, as well as Family Support Groups. A variety of peer support groups are also offered in various locations.
www.namihawaii.org, (808) 591-1297
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Psychiatry
Hawaii’s leader in research, service, and training on mental/behavioral health in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Region. The Department also co-houses the “Hawaii’s Caring Communities/Systems Initiatives (HCCI and HCSI) for Youth Suicide Prevention,” under the direction of Dr. Deborah Goebert (goebertd@dop.hawaii.edu) and Dr. Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda (jsugimot@hawaii.edu).
Department of Psychiatry – http://blog.hawaii.edu/dop
HCCI/HCSI projects – hcsi.team@gmail.com
A comprehensive description of the Department’s suicide prevention work can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5694974/pdf/hjmph7611_0310.pdf.
Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention
Main contacts:
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Psychiatry (hcsi.team@gmail.com).
The Hawaii’s Caring Communities Initiative (HCCI) supports the Youth Leadership Council. Approximately 50 youth from across the state are now part of the Council, serving as advocates for suicide prevention in their respective communities. Interested youth/organizations can contact HCCI for information on the process for becoming involved in the Council (includes an application/interview process to ensure youth’s readiness for serving as a youth leader).
Other Partner Organizations and Agencies
There are many groups, formal and informal, that are currently working in suicide prevention. The following list provides just a snapshot of these groups – and thankfully, the list continues to grow!
Action With Aloha
‘Ai Pono
AlohaCare
Alu Like
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hawai‛i Chapter
BRAVEHEART
CARE Hawai‘i
Castle Medical Center
Catholic Charities of Hawai‛i
Chaminade University
Crisis Text Line
Department of Parks and Recreation (Honolulu)
Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Air Force, Army, Army National Guard, Marines, Navy, Veteran’s Administration)
Family Court
Gebco Hawai‘i
GLSEN Hawai‘i
Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua
Hale Kipa
Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Cente
Hawai‘i Pacific University
Hawai‘i Primary Care Association
Hawai‘i S.P.E.A.R. Foundation of America
Hawai‘i State Department of Education
Hawai‘i State Department of Health (Adult Mental Health Division, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division, Alcohol & Substance Abuse Division, Emergency Medical Services & Injury Prevention System Branch, Family Health Services Division, Maternal & Child Health Branch, Neurotrauma Supports Program, Tobacco Settlement Fund Management)
Hawai‘i State Department of Human Services (Office of Youth Services)
Hawai‘i State Department of Public Safety
Hawai‘i State Legislature
Helping Hands Hawai‘i
Highway Inn
Hilo Medical Center
Hina Mauka
Hope Services Hawai‘i
Judiciary – First Circuit
Kahuku Medical Center
Kahuku United Methodist Church
Kamehameha Schools
Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children
Ka‘ū Hospital
Kaua‘i Veteran’s Memorial Hospital
Ke Ola Mamo
Kids Hurt Too
Ko‘olauloa Community Health and Wellness Center
Lāna‘i Community Hospital
Legacy of Life Hawai‘i
Life’s Bridges Kaua‘i
Lili‘uokalani Trust
Maui Community College
Maui Economic Opportunity
Maui Memorial Medical Center
Mental Health America of Hawai‘i
Moloka‘i Child Abuse Prevention Pathways (MCAPP)
Moloka‘i Community Health Center
Moloka‘i General Hospital
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Hawai‘i Chapter
O‘ahu Economic Development Board
Office for Social Ministry, Catholic Diocese
Paul Mitchell School
Police Departments (all counties)
Punahou School
Queen’s Medical Center
Salvation Army
Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawai‘i
St. Francis Hospice
Sutter Health Kāhi Mōhala
Tripler Medical Center
University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges (Honolulu, Kapi‘olani, Leeward)
University of Hawai‘i Hilo
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (John A. Burns School of Medicine, Office of Public Health Studies, School of Social Work, Counseling and Student Development Center)
University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu
Wahiawa General Hospital
Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
Wilcox Memorial Hospital